Chapter 7

By this point Melissa and Taylor had tears silently running down their cheeks. No one knew what to say, so they all just sat there.

"Ok, next on the agenda." Daley said, and Lex again pushed play. The song that played during Abby's dance came on. "We need to make more happy memories" Daley said.

Jackson and Mel started dancing, and Mel rested her head on his shoulder. Eric and Taylor went right for one another, and Nathan and Daley found each other.

"This was the perfect idea Day. I think we all needed a little reminder of who we were and what happened to us." Nathan said, and he kissed her or the cheek.

"I can't believe I did exactly what I didn't want to do." Taylor said, "I turned right back into the girl I was before we left, and it makes me sick. I just couldn't stand up to my friends when we got back."

"That girl is still in you," Eric told her, "I know the real you, and she's better than that. I also know that I'm better too. I just need to start showing it." They both smiled at each other with total understanding.

"I can't believe I have been pushing the only true friends I had away," Jackson told Melissa. "It's so hard to let people in, but everyone was already in, and we were all friends. I need to try harder."

Melissa smiled and gave him a quick kiss. "I've been waiting for you to come back for three months. Welcome home." He held her tighter and smiled.

Lex stood up and said he needed to make an announcement. "Daley also had you guys answer a few questions. She wanted me to explain it to you because I don't get to see you guys very often. She wanted to make awards for people to help them know how everyone felt about them on the island. The first award is for the person who changed the most, and it goes to Taylor,"

Taylor stood up, and Lex handed her a plaque that Daley had gotten made. Taylor had tears in her eyes, and she said "I know the island changed me, but home changed me too, and I don't want to be this girl anymore. I need to be that girl," she said as she pointed to the picture still on the video screen of everyone hugging.

"The next award is for the most dependable, and it goes to Jackson."

"Guys I don't know what to say. I haven't been very dependable these last three months, but that's going to change." Jackson promised.

"The next award going to the person who was most understanding of everyone, and it goes to Melissa,"

"Thanks guys. I'm always here for you, no matter what. You guys are my best friends, and I love you," She said about to cry,

"This award goes to the person who was most helpful. Come up here Nathan."

"I know in the beginning I tried way too hard, but I eventually figured it all out. I'm still here if any of you need help with anything, ever." Nathan said with a smile.

"The award for most entertaining goes to Eric,"

"Guys I miss this. When we were on the island everything just made sense. It's weird, but being stranded was no where near as hard as high school. I'm going to work on it because without me, who will bring joy to your lives," Eric tried to cover himself once he realized he was becoming sentimental.

"The last award is for the most useful person on the island, and everyone voted for me. Thanks guys," Lex said with a big grin.

"Wait, what about Daley? Doesn't she get an award?" Melissa asked.

"I didn't really think it was fair for me to get one when I did all this. I thought it would make people feel weird if I knew who voted for me to get my award, so I thought this was easiest," Daley responded.

"I don't think that's right. We all worked together on the island, and we all needed each other. You totally deserve something," Taylor said.

"Most likely to bring us all back together," Nathan said. Everyone agreed, and that made Daley feel so much better about this evening.

Once everyone had their awards, Lex started playing the music again, and the dancing resumed.

Everyone kept dancing until the early morning. By the time it was 2am, everyone realized they were out way past curfew.

At the end of the night, everyone hugged and said good-bye. This was exactly what I hoped would happen. Everyone was talking and getting along just like before. I could feel a change, but what would happen at school on Monday?